Louisiana state Sen. Elbert Guillory, R-Opelousas, shows off a couple pairs of sparring mits or "gloves" used in the sport of "chicken boxing" outside the Louisiana Senate chambers on Tuesday April 1, 2014. The Louisiana Legislature gave final passage to changes to the state's cockfighting ban Tuesday, May 20, 2014, without Guillory's amendment that would legalize chicken boxing.
(Emily Lane, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

Along the way, a fellow lawmaker objected to the measure for its criminalization of a sport he called "chicken boxing," which the rural Louisiana delegate, Sen. Elbert Guillory, would ultimately introduce to America when debate over the less-vicious poultry combat made national headlines, as well as late-night TV spots.

The Louisiana Legislature gave final passage Tuesday (May 20) by a vote of 34-4 to Morrell's bill strengthening the cockfighting law when the Senate agreed to amendments added to it on the House floor. The final passage of the legislation, which now heads to Gov. Bobby Jindal's desk to become law, signals the end of this session's tongue-in-cheek debate over the bill following a serious attempt by Guillory, R-Opelousas, to amend it to legalize chicken boxing.

The Lafayette Parish lawmaker and candidate for lieutenant governor claimed chicken boxing was a humane practice that pits two chickens wearing little "boxing gloves," against each other in matches for human entertainment. He lifted two pairs of yellow and red rubber chicken "boxing gloves" in the air on the Senate floor last month, explaining that unlike cockfighting, it involved, "no blood, no knives, no cruelty." His amendment to the bill that would legalize chicken boxing and promulgate rules for what he called a "legitimate sport" failed in the Senate April 7 by a vote of 29-8.

Animal rights groups, though, claimed "chicken boxing" was not a real sport but merely a "creative excuse" cockfighters use to lobby for lessened penalties. They use the "gloves" in practice rounds to assess which birds they take to cockfighting derbies.

J.P. Morrell

Morrell, D-New Orleans, suggested relief on the Senate floor Tuesday as the bill cleared its last legislative hurdle. "Ladies and gentleman, I move that we concur on this so we don't have to hear anymore about cockfighting or chicken boxing this session," he said.

He introduced the legislation on behalf of the Humane Society of the United States to clear up language in the statute that the Legislature passed in 2007, when Louisiana was the last state to ban the blood sport common in some rural parts of Louisiana.

The law change adds a ban of cockfighting paraphernalia, like spurs or gaffs, when coupled with evidence of use to fight chickens. It also increases penalties, putting them more in line with dog fighting. It proposes a maximum penalty for first offenses of a year in jail and $2,000 fine; and up to three years in prison and the same fine for repeat offenses. House amendments added last week would protect those who export chickens for legitimate purposes.

The House had their own fun with the bill last week. Rep. Pat Smith, D-Baton Rouge, laughed at her own question when she asked how to determine whether one chicken is acting in self defense. Rep. Stephen Ortego, D-Carenco, pondered whether law enforcement officials use carbon dating to determine if the paraphernalia is legal memorabilia or not.

The memorabilia issue came up during a House committee debate, when Morrell also faced challenges to his bill from self-described veteran cockfighter James Demoruelle of Ville Platte, who got the law amended to keep legal the possession of paraphernalia for memorabilia purposes.

Louisiana state director for the Humane Society Julia Breaux said adoption of the legislation would mean Louisiana has one of the "best animal fighting laws in the region." The law was also updated in 2010 to penalize those knowingly attending the spectacle, which generally involves gambling.

"This state will never again be a refuge for those who engage in these cruel spectacles where roosters are forced to fight to the death," Breaux said.

Guillory was joined by senators Dan Claitor, R-Baton Rouge; Gerald Long, R-Winnfield; and Jonathan "J.P." Perry, R-Kaplan, in voting against advancement of the strengthened cockfighting law.